University of Wollongong

From Vero - Wikipedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Template:Infobox university The University of Wollongong (UOW) is an Australian public research university located in the suburb of Keiraville, within the coastal city of Wollongong, New South Wales, approximately Template:Convert south of Sydney. Template:As of, the university had an enrolment of more than 33,000 students (including over 12,300 international students), an alumni base of more than 176,000 [LC1] and over 2,400 staff members including 16 Distinguished professors.

In 1951, a division of the New South Wales University of Technology (known as the University of New South Wales from 1958) was established in Wollongong for the conduct of diploma courses. In 1961, the Wollongong University College of the University of New South Wales was constituted and the college was officially opened in 1962. In 1975 the University of Wollongong was established as an independent institution. Since its establishment, the university has conferred more than 120,000 degrees, diplomas and certificates. Its students, originally predominantly from the local Illawarra region, are now from over 150 countries, with international students accounting for more than 37 percent of total.

The University of Wollongong has developed into a multi-campus institution, both domestically and globally. The Wollongong campus, the university's main campus, is on the original site Template:Convert north-west of the city centre, and covers an area of Template:Convert with 94 permanent buildings. In addition, there are regional university campuses in Bega, Batemans Bay, Moss Vale and Shoalhaven, as well as three Sydney campuses, including the UOW Sydney Business School, UOW Liverpool and UOW Sutherland. Beyond Australia, UOW has campuses in Dubai, Hong Kong and cities in Malaysia. UOW has also established partnerships with a number of international education institutions in China and Singapore.

History

File:UOW Graduation Day in 1966.jpg
The graduation ceremony (held in 1966) was held out of doors, a feature of the open-air ceremony of the 1960s.

Over 60 years, the university has grown from a provincial feeder college with 300 students to an international university with over 33,000 students spread across nine domestic campuses and four international centres.

Establishment

The University of Wollongong traces its origins to 1951.<ref name="Castle_1991">Template:Cite book</ref> The foundation of the university was in 1951 when a division of The New South Wales University of Technology (currently known as the University of New South Wales, UNSW) was established in Wollongong. In 1962, the division became the Wollongong College of the University of New South Wales.<ref name="About Us">Template:Cite web</ref>

On 1 January 1975, the New South Wales Parliament incorporated the University of Wollongong as an independent institution of higher learning consisting of five faculties (including engineering, humanities, mathematics, sciences and social sciences) with Michael Birt as its inaugural vice chancellor. In 1976, Justice Robert Marsden Hope was installed as chancellor of the university. As of 1982, the university amalgamated the Wollongong Institute of Higher Education which had begun life in 1962 as the Wollongong Teachers' College; thus the merger formed the basis for a period of rapid growth in the 1980s.<ref name=uowhistory>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

In 1951, a foundation of the University of Wollongong was founded as a division of the New South Wales University of Technology in Wollongong. A decade later, the division became the Wollongong College of the University of New South Wales.<ref name="About Us"/>

In 1972, the library was three storeys high and could fit 280 students.<ref name="library history">Template:Cite web</ref> In 1975, the University of Wollongong gained its autonomy as an independent institution of higher learning by the Parliament of New South Wales. In 1976, the library expanded and could fit 530 students.<ref name="library history"/>

In 1977, the Faculty of Computer Science (currently known as the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences) developed a version of Unix for the Interdata 7/32 called UNSW 01, this was the first non-PDP Unix.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the late 70s, Tim Berners-Lee sourced TCP/IP software, an integral element of the World Wide Web, from the University of Wollongong.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In 1981, Ken McKinnon was appointed Vice-Chancellor, overseeing the amalgamation of the university with the Wollongong Institute of Education (also known as WIE) in 1982. The Wollongong Institute of Education had originated in 1971 as the Teachers College (renamed the Wollongong Institute of Education in 1973).<ref name="Castle_1991"/> This merger formed the basis of the contemporary university. In 1983, the Faculty of Commerce was established along with the School of Creative Arts, followed by the creation of the Faculty of Education in 1984. Also in 1984 the commencement of the new Wollongong University building program began, which led to the construction and opening of the Illawarra Technology Centre (1985), Kooloobong (1985, 1986, 1990), Weerona College (1986), Administration, Union Mall (now known as UniCentre), URAC (1987), multi-storey carpark (1990) and heated swimming pool (1990).<ref name=uowhistory/>

In 1993, the University of Wollongong Dubai Campus in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates was established.

In 2000, the Shoalhaven campus was opened at Nowra on the South Coast. The Bega campus was also opened. In 2001, the Southern Highlands campus opened at Moss Vale.

In 2008, the university opened the first building at Wollongong Innovation Campus (abbreviated as iC) on a 20-hectare site at Brandon Park in Wollongong.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In August, the Faculty of Science Dean, Rob Whelan, took up a new role as president of the University of Wollongong in Dubai.

In October 2009 Chancellor Mike Codd retired as chancellor after three four-year terms. He was succeeded by Jillian Broadbent.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

In July 2010, the New South Wales Health Minister, Carmel Tebbutt, opened the $30 million Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute. In August, a $20 million building housing the Sydney Business School and the UOW/TAFE Digital Media Centre opened at the Innovation Campus. The centre was named the Mike Codd Building in honour of a former chancellor. In 2014, work began on the $20 million iAccelerate building at the Innovation Campus (iC), which offers space for up to 200 budding entrepreneurs to develop their ideas.

In 2017, the University of Wollongong South Western Sydney campus opened on Moore Street in Liverpool.

In October 2020 Christine McLoughlin succeeded Jillian Broadbent as chancellor.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Michael Still took over the role in 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Overseas expansion

In 1993 the University of Wollongong in Australia opened what was to become the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) in the United Arab Emirates. Initially called the Institute of Australian Studies (IAS), this centre made UOW the first foreign university to open a campus in the UAE, and the first Australian tertiary institution represented in the Persian Gulf region, as well as one of the earliest tertiary institutions founded in the UAE.<ref>'Institutions look to Gulf market' p.30 Australian Financial Review 6 July 1993</ref> IAS initially offered English language programs, before becoming a "feeder college" by 1995, where students completed part of a degree in business or IT in Dubai before coming to Australia to complete their studies.<ref>'Wollongong's Arabian outpost' Campus Review 6 October 1999</ref> In 1999, it was the first foreign-owned institution in the world to be issued a licence from the federal government of the United Arab Emirates,<ref name="dubai">Template:Cite news</ref> and was formally opened as University of Wollongong, Dubai Campus in October 2000. It was officially incorporated as University of Wollongong in Dubai in 2004 and at present it has over 4,000 students from almost one hundred countries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>'Uni's Dubai Campus Open For Business' The Illawarra Mercury 10 October 2000</ref>

Campuses and buildings

The University of Wollongong comprises nine campuses in Australia:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Wollongong

The Wollongong campus, as the university's main campus, is located on the New South Wales coast, Template:Convert from the centre of Wollongong and Template:Convert south of Sydney. It is served by the North Wollongong railway station which opened in 1915 on South Coast railway line.

Courses are offered across four faculties comprising the Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities, the Faculty of Business and Law, the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences and the Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health. All together, nearly 33,000 students attend classes along with around 2,400 staff on the Wollongong campus. Apart from the teaching and research buildings, the campus includes student residences, conference facilities, food halls, supermarket, cafes, restaurants, a bar, conference facilities, indoor sports centres and gymnasium, swimming pool and sports fields. The Wollongong campus is also home to UOW College.

UOW Liverpool

In 2016 The University of Wollongong expanded the growing South West Sydney region, with a campus in the Liverpool CBD taking its first cohort of students in 2017. The campus is expected to expand over the next several years.

Innovation Campus

The Innovation Campus, abbreviated as iC, is located in Wollongong, New South Wales. The campus was established with seed funding from the New South Wales government and has received ongoing support from the federal and state governments as well as the Wollongong City Council and was established to drive partnerships and collaboration between the research and business communities by co-locating commercial and research organisation.<ref name="Innovation Campus">Template:Cite web</ref>

Template:Wide image

Sydney Business School

Template:Further

The Sydney Business School, which was established in 1997, is the graduate school of UOW's Faculty of Business and offers postgraduate business programs at the Sydney CBD Campus located at Darling Park, adjacent to Darling Harbour,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and UOW's Wollongong Campus.

Regional campuses

Overseas Campus

Dubai

Template:Further

  • The University of Wollongong in Dubai (commonly referred to as the University of Wollongong Dubai Campus), abbreviated as UOWD, was established by the University of Wollongong in Australia in 1993 and is located in Knowledge Village KV 14 and 15 Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The university is one of the United Arab Emirates' oldest universities. The campus employs over 4,000 staff and has a student cohort of over 4,000 from almost one hundred countries. While affiliated to the University of Wollongong, UW Dubai remains a separate and autonomous institution.Template:Citation needed

Malaysia

Template:Further

Hong Kong

Template:Further

  • The University of Wollongong College Hong Kong was established as the Community College of City University in 2004. It was later renamed as UOW College Hong Kong.

Governance and structure

Faculties and departments

File:Uni of Wollongong Science buildings.JPG
The science buildings at the Wollongong Campus

The University of Wollongong has four faculties.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities

  • School of the Arts, English and Media
  • School of Education
  • School of Geography and Sustainable Communities
  • School of Health and Society
  • School of Humanities and Social inquiry
  • School of Liberal Arts
  • School of Psychology
  • Early Start Research

Faculty of Business and Law

  • School of Accounting, Economics & Finance
  • School of Management, Operations & Marketing
  • School of Law
  • Sydney Business School, University of Wollongong
  • Australian Health Services Research Institute
  • Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources & Security
File:Uni of Wollongong McKinnon building.JPG
The McKinnon Building at the Wollongong Campus, named after former Vice-Chancellor Ken McKinnon

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences

  • School of Civil, Mining, Environmental and Architectural Engineering
  • School of Physics
  • School of Mechanical, Materials, Mechatronic and Biomedical Engineering
  • School of Computing and Information Technology
  • School of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering
  • School of Mathematics & Applied Statistics
  • SMART Infrastructure Facility
  • Australian Steel Research Hub
  • Sustainable Buildings Research Centre
File:The Gateway Building.JPG
The Sydney Business School's Circular Quay Campus

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health

  • School of Biological Sciences
  • School of Chemistry
  • School of Earth & Environmental Sciences
  • School of Medicine
  • School of Nursing
  • Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute

Memberships and affiliations

The University of Wollongong has affiliated to a number of associations and organisations:

Academic profile

Research and publications

Research divisions

The university's Innovation Campus is home to the Template:Proper name Centre, housing over 280 start-up entrepreneurs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Major research entities

  • The Australian Institute of Innovative Materials (AIIM)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Early Start Research Institute (ESRI)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Smart Infrastructure Research Facility (SMART)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • The Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> an independent health and medical research institute based on the University of Wollongong campus. IHMRI is a joint initiative of the University of Wollongong and the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District. It was initiated to improve the health and wellbeing of Illawarra residents by developing a regional centre of excellence in health and medical research. The building was dedicated to former Vice Chancellor, Emeritus Professor Gerard Sutton representing his significant contribution from 1995 to 2011 at the university.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Australian Health Services Research Institute (AHSRI)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Other research entities
  • Advanced Manufacturing Technologies
  • Australian Centre for Cultural Environmental Research (AUSSCER)
  • Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS)
  • Centre for Archaeological Science (CAS)
  • Centre for Medical & Molecular Bioscience (CMMB)
  • Centre for Medical Radiation Physics (CMRP)
  • Early Start Research Institute (ESRI)
  • Engineering Materials (EM)
  • GeoQuEST Research Centre
  • National Institute for Applied Statistical Research Australia (NIASRA)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

International research

The University of Wollongong has formed key alliances with a number of international corporations and organisations:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

  • Co-operation between the Geological Survey Organisation of Indonesia and the GeoQuEST Research Strength.
  • Members of the Institute for Social Transformation Research participating in numerous international networks dedicated to understanding the causes and implications of social change and cultural transformation. Current collaborative projects engage with research centres in Japan, Sweden, Malaysia, the UK and elsewhere.
  • Research partnerships between CAPSTRANS and a range of research groups in the Asia Pacific.
  • The Intelligent Polymer Research Institute (IPRI) has developed global linkages with research institutions in the US, Japan, South Korea, China, Ireland, France, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand and the United Kingdom working on multifunctional, stimuli-responsive materials for various applications.
  • The Smart Foods and Public Health Centre is collaborating with research groups in Finland, Sweden, the US and Spain.

Libraries and databases

The University of Wollongong has multiple libraries across its campuses.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Tuition, loans and financial aid

For international students starting in 2024, the indicative total tuition fees range from Template:AUD to Template:AUD for award programs lasting at least one year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Domestic studentsTemplate:Efn may be offered a federally-subsidised Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) which substantially decreases the student contribution amount billed to the student.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The maximum student contribution amount limits that can be applied to CSP students are dependent on the field of study.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Since 2021, Commonwealth Supported Places have also been limited to 7 years of equivalent full-time study load (EFTSL), calculated in the form of Student Learning Entitlement (SLE).<ref name="Student Learning Entitlement">Template:Cite web</ref> Students may accrue additional SLE under some circumstances (e.g. starting a separate one-year honours program) or every 10 years.<ref name="Student Learning Entitlement" /> Domestic students are also able to access the HECS-HELP student loans scheme offered by the federal government.<ref name="Student loans">Template:Cite web</ref> These are indexed to the Consumer or Wage Price Index, whichever is lower, and repayments are voluntary unless the recipient passes an income threshold.<ref name="Student loans" />

The university also offers several scholarships, which come in the form of bursaries or tuition fee remission.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Academic reputation

Template:Infobox Australian university ranking In the 2024 Aggregate Ranking of Top Universities, which measures aggregate performance across the QS, THE and ARWU rankings, the university attained a position of #198 (13th nationally).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

National publications

In the Australian Financial Review Best Universities Ranking 2024, the university was ranked #9 amongst Australian universities.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Global publications

In the 2026 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings (published 2025), the university attained a tied position of #184 (13th nationally).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 (published 2025), the university attained a position of #201–250 (tied 11–13th nationally).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the 2025 Academic Ranking of World Universities, the university attained a position of #301–400 (tied 14–20th nationally).<ref name="ARWU Rankings">Template:Cite web</ref>

In the 2025–2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities, the university attained a tied position of #212 (15th nationally).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the CWTS Leiden Ranking 2024,Template:Efn the university attained a position of #331 (16th nationally).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Student outcomes

The Australian Government's QILTTemplate:Efn conducts national surveys documenting the student life cycle from enrolment through to employment.<ref name="About QILT" /> These surveys place more emphasis on criteria such as student experience, graduate outcomes and employer satisfaction<ref name="About QILT">Template:Cite web</ref> than perceived reputation, research output and citation counts.<ref name="Bridgestock 2024">Template:Cite web</ref>

In the 2023 Employer Satisfaction Survey, graduates of the university had an overall employer satisfaction rate of 86%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the 2023 Graduate Outcomes Survey, graduates of the university had a full-time employment rate of 77.5% for undergraduates and 90.1% for postgraduates.<ref name="GOS Survey 2023">Template:Cite web</ref> The initial full-time salary was Template:AUD for undergraduates and Template:AUD for postgraduates.<ref name="GOS Survey 2023" />

In the 2023 Student Experience Survey, undergraduates at the university rated the quality of their entire educational experience at 80.4% meanwhile postgraduates rated their overall education experience at 75.8%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Student life

Student union

The Wollongong Undergraduate Students' Association produces the magazine Tertangala, and many other services including representation, advocacy and student support. Postgraduate representation is provided by the Wollongong University Postgraduate Association, a member of the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations.

Wollongong UniCentre, an on-campus organisation and controlled entity of the university, provides the social and commercial infrastructure on the campus, administering the UniBar, student clubs and societies, food outlets, entertainment and activities, a books and news shop and other student services.

The geographical and social centre of the university is the Duck Pond Lawn, and its surrounding eateries and other facilities, including the UniBar. The UniBar serves alcoholic drinks and a small range of lunch foods. The UniBar building was opened by Colin Markham MP, Simon Zulian Student Rep, Nigel Pennington UniCentre GM and Gerard Sutton VC on 14 May 2001. The UniBar has since won numerous awards including the Major Award and the Public Building Award of the Architectural Design Awards held in Wollongong in 2003, the "ACUMA" award for Best New Campus Facility and the Master Builders Award for Excellence in Construction by Camarda and Cantril.<ref>UOW News Template:Webarchive "The UniBar building, designed by Brewster Hjorth Architects, received not only the Major Award but also an award in the public buildings category" Retrieved on 28 June 2009.</ref>

In line with Commonwealth legislation introduced in October 2011, the University of Wollongong instated the Student Services and Amenities Fee. This fee was charged to student depending on their study load and location, and has been used to upgrade and subsidise existing facilities and install new facilities such as common barbecue areas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sports and athletics

Rugby

The Wollongong University RC (or UOW Mallee Bulls) competes in the Illawarra Rugby Union premiership. The club plays their home games at the University Oval, Wollongong. The Mallee Bulls wear red, white and blue jerseys. The club fields three senior teams and a women's side.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The University of Wollongong Titans (or UOW Titans) is a former rugby league football team that was part of Country Rugby League and competed in the Illawarra Rugby League premiership.

Residential colleges

The university has a number of residential college and halls of residence:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

I-House is the oldest residential college of the University of Wollongong and is an affiliate of the 16 International Houses Worldwide. It provides accommodation to approximately 218 students who are attending the University of Wollongong. It is situated at the corner of Porter and Hindmarsh Avenue in North Wollongong, near the North Wollongong railway station.

Residents of the residential college are predominantly undergraduate students, with some postgraduate students also accommodated. International House provides catered, dormitory style accommodation. There are 218 beds, 14 shared rooms (28 beds) and 190 single rooms.

Exchange programs

The University of Wollongong has 180 global partners,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> offering international short course and study abroad programs, and internships.

Exchange destinations

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2

Asia-Pacific
  • Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, China & New Caledonia
Europe
  • Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Macedonia, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey & the United Kingdom
Americas
  • Brazil, Canada, Mexico & the United States of America

Template:Col-2

Utrecht Network
  • Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland & the United Kingdom
Dubai Study Program

Template:Col-end

Notable people

Template:Main

Notable alumni

As of 2023, the university has turned out more than 176,000 graduates, and also has alumni members all over the world in 199 countries. Although a large number of alumni live in Wollongong and Sydney, and a significant number also live in Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Bangkok, London, New York and Washington, D.C.<ref name="Facts & Figures - Statistics">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Controversies

In 2016, the university awarded a controversial PhD to Judith Wilyman, in which she was alleged to advocate a vaccine conspiracy theory.<ref name="IM1">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="ihe1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="ABCnews1">Template:Cite news</ref> The university received criticism over this decision,<ref name="IM1" /> but the university cited the need to permit 'freedom of opinion', and noted that the thesis passed the university's assessment procedures.<ref name="SBS1">Template:Cite news</ref>

The university has been criticised for their handling of reported sexual assaults.<ref name="sex1">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="sex2">Template:Cite news</ref> One case highlighted the way in which the university claimed to "assist" a student after the student alleged sexual assault by another student. News Limited reported that the university did not take any disciplinary action against the alleged perpetrator, instead advising the victim to change behaviour, with the victim adding: "Nothing happened to him. Instead I was told to make all the changes". For self-protection the victim independently succeeded in taking out an Apprehended Violence Order via the courts against the alleged. Karen Willis, the executive officer of Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia, described the actions of the university as "disgraceful", as it placed the "onus and responsibility on the person who has experienced violence". The university responded that its instructions are "standard procedure", it "does not comment on specific allegations", and it is not able to investigate sexual assault claims, as those must be investigated by the NSW Police.<ref name="sex1" /> Another alleged victim considers their sexual assault and UoW's "response to be equally despicable."<ref name="smh16">Template:Cite news</ref>

Between 2011 and 2016, there were 40 officially reported cases of sexual assault, harassment or misconduct on campus, resulting in no expulsions, one suspension and three reprimands. Freedom of information investigations reported by News Limited suggest this may represent "just the tip of the iceberg ... due to under-reporting".<ref name="sex2" /> In contrast, the 2017 Australian Human Rights Commission report on sexual assault and harassment found reported figures substantially higher than this.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

See also

Template:Portal

Footnotes

Template:Reflist Template:Notelist

References

Template:Reflist

Further reading

Template:Commons category

Template:University of Wollongong Template:Navboxes

Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?title=University_of_Wollongong&oldid=285958"